I'm running a microtech, and had it tuned by Dale at Castle Hill Exhausts. What I like about them is they are pretty easy to understand and tinker with. I can setup my own cold starts and cruise maps without too much difficulity and i'm by no means a pro. My only complaint would be that for some reason my car takes 3 or 4 cranks to fire up now but when I was running a socketed stock ECU it would fire on the first crank. I'm not sure if that's the ECU's fault or something to do with the tune If I had to do it again i'd consider the D Jetro Power FC or whatever it's called from UAS. Seems pretty comprehensive from everything i've heard. And I know of at least one 450-500+ rwkw car running one Ben
yeah dude if you want big power screw the socketed ECUs and get a Power FC DJetro, Haltech or Microtech. piss the airflow meter off for better flow, no use beating round the bush with these sort of things.
ive tuned a few bmw's on microtech's and i found them quite good. map resolution ive found is not important on warm street cars. Wolf is good hardware but there are few tuners, i have thought about getting a wolf plug and play unit for mine before i got the chip burner. I didnt know haltech did a plug and play unit for these cars, is that a new or old product?
Haltech E11V2, has been around a little while now. It is available with a jumper harness to plug into the zed. They are around $1500. Microtech LT series has 16x16 mapping (for a total of 256 load points), Haltech has 32x32(total 1024 load points), haltch will also access algarithms in 0.012ms, thats 6 times quicker than the microtech. It also has more configurable outputs in digital, analog and pwm. The price difference between the Microtech LT16s and Haltech PS1000 is only $300 for a far superior ecu. Microtech LT16s is $1599, with open ended harness. Haltech PS1000 is $1899 with open ended harness, relays, fuse holder and quality sheild wires. I have had experience with Wolf on a few big power rotors, all fitted by very well known shops. The 20B cosmo went through Wold ecu due to hardware failure and then switched to microtech. The car drove alot better on the Wolf, but the mitrotech was far more reliable. Microtech are well known for cold start issues aswell as excess cranking time to fire. Dollar for dollar the haltech wins hands down.
I like haltech's no doubt, the only issue i ever had was low end mapping on a highly strung n/a bmw with a 296deg cam, the vac signal was up and down like the stock exchange and it was extremely difficult to tune, but then thats gonna be the case with any map sensor system. apha-n i suppose is the answer
Low or inconsistant manifold vacuum is an issue with map based tunes. This can be combated with map readings taken from a larger vac distribution block or by playing with the location of the map sensor port. Autronic and haltech also offer very good map sensors that are not in built which have excellent response(this is what i am using). Alpha n is based on throttle position and rpm with no compensation(ussually) for barometric pressure. This can give an excellent tune with large overlap cams but is also very time consuming to get right and is best done with data logging in real world conditions, ie not on the dyno. From personal experience with microtech and haltech on high power rotors both turbo and ported, wolf on VL's and skylines, power fc on silvias and 180's, EMS on a supercharged gemini and haltech on various things here is my thoughts, Microtech- good at wot, excellent on rotors Wolf- too many hardware issues Power fc- average in most street cars EMS- very good value for money, low end system Haltech- good all round, alot of features, tuning is harder than it should be Value for money, best to worst Haltech Power fc Microtech Ems Wolf Ease of install Haltech, plug in only Power fc Microtech EMS Haltech, if not plug in, average instruction manual Wolf, poor support and instruction manual Nistune or socketed ECU's will do the job, they do not have the features of a proper aftermarket ECU. If your combo is fairly simple, go with nistune or socket. If your pushing the envelope, go aftermarket.
Comprehensive reply and I can't argue with your experience. That said the biggest HP VG30DETT cars in OZ are running power FC D-Jetro with no probs. Cost and feature-wise you can't go wrong, and plenty of power AND driveability. Based on??? And what is the cost of a power FC?? Considering only one place that can do it, and I am 99.9% sure you have NO experience with power FC running VG30DETT...
Your right, no experience on a vg with power fc. Value for money based on ease of install, features, tuning, dealers and support. Power fc and haltech are very close. Haltech is my preference.
You forgot one. Link computer. I rate this highly, especially in regards to features and ease of tuning. Also they are top notch company to deal with, the computer is easy to wire in having done 4 cars now, and the tuning software is free to down load from their website. Agree that I think Motec is a little over price for what you get.
Have heard alot of good things about the Link, but have never even seen one, let alone any experience with them.
Well, we will have to catch up one day and you can have a play on the one on the E-Vade. The part I really love about it is that you can set fail safe parameters in it in regard to detonation so that if you cock up the tuning you don't lunch the engine. Also, Flatshift, lauch control, traction control, anti-lag, data logging, etc are all selecteable menu items. All for $1900 bucks for the top model.... hmmmm Motec might need to watch out. The biggest issue is that it is made by Kiwis, and the menu comes up with things like "choice bro", and six is sux.
That is why I went with the haltech ps1000 for my car, it has all those features aswell and the price is the same.
as per my other recommendation, i also have used other tuners. send me a pm if you are intersted in finding out.
If I was you go to NISTune site and have a look ,The price is good and I cannot Fault my setup. NISTune.com.au [yes it is an Aussie Company]
Just for a bit of comparison, the GReddy Emanage Ultimate has 16x16 maps, very simply interface and a real easy menu system if you are changing things like AFM's, injectors or if you convert to MAP. Has individual injector trim, basic launch control and switchable outputs on whatever you want. Only $500, but not what I would use on a big power monster. I would definitely think about it over a Microtech for a street car. IMO PowerFC's are just a slightly fancier rechipped stock ECU, I'm not a fan. Particularly for the cost... I'll be going Nistune :zlove:
